Peanut-harvesting machine

ABSTRACT

Peanut plants having taproots cut below the soil surface are transported upwardly by a conveyor in a harvesting machine to a location from which the plants are deposited onto the ground. Conical roller devices and guide rods invert the plants as they are discharged from the conveyor to windrow the plants with the taproots exposed.

United States Patent [72] Inventors John R. Paulk Pine Needle Road,Fitzgerald, Ga. 31750; Jacob W. Paulk, Route #1, Wray, Ga. 31798 [21]Appl. No. 42,722

[22] Filed June 2, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [54]PEANUT-HARVESTING MACHINE 15 Claims, 8 Drawing Flgs.

[52] U.S.Cl l7l/l0l [5 l] Int. Cl A0ld 29/00 [50] FieldoiSearch l7l/l0l,6|, 62, 44

[56] ReierencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,669,820 2/1954 P61111161l7l/62 2,122,194 11/1955 MCGeQ..... 171/101 3,454,100 7/l969 Lilley....111/101 2,991,114 8/1961 Hines 111/101 Primary Examiner-Antonio F. GuidaAuorney-Clarence A. O'Brien & Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: Peanut plantshaving taproots out below the soil surface are transported upwardly by aconveyor in a harvesting machine to a location from which the plants aredeposited onto the ground. Conical roller devices and guide rods invertthe plants as they are discharged from the conveyor to windrew theplants with the taproots exposed.

PATENTEB DEC 7197! SHEET 1 [1F 5 John Paw/fir Jacob W4 Paw/k PATENTEDBB: 7 I871 Fig. 7

SHEET 2 UF 5 0, John R Paul/r Jacob W Pau/fir INVIiN'I'OKS' PATENTED DEC7 IHYI SHEET 3 [1F 5 v a Qua m \v Q o x8 John A. Pau/k Jacob M. Paw/kPATENTEnnm Mm 3.625291 SHEET l 0F 5 Fig. 4

John Fa. Peru/A Jacob W Paul/r INVENTORS PATENTED DEC 7 ISTI SHEET 5 BF5 John R. Pam/k m nt PEANUT-HARVESTING MACHINE This invention relatesgenerally to peanut harvesting machines and more particularlyto aharvester in which the peanut plants are positively inverted to aposition with the taproots exposed as they are deposited on the groundin a windrow in trailing relation to the machine.

Peanut-harvesting machines generally involve a machine frame that istowed forwardly over rows of vinelike peanut plants to sequentially cutthe plants at the roots below the soil surface. and transfer the cutplants to the lower end of a conveyor by means of which the plants aretransported upwardly and rearwardly of the machine to a dischargelocation from which the plants are deposited onto the ground in trailingrelation to the forwardly moving harvesting machine.

Harvesting machines of this type are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat.No. 2,620,616. In windrowing the cut plants, it is desirable that thetaproots be exposed to the air for drying. An attempt to windrow theplants in such a manner as to expose the roots for drying has beenproposed in US. Pat. No. 2,620,616 employing a laterally deflectingchute attached to the harvester frame. This arrangement however is notvery reliable or completely effective for the purposes. It is thereforean important object of the present invention to provide apeanut-harvesting machine having facilities for positively inverting theplants as they are discharged from the upper end of the conveyor inorder to insure that the taproots of the plants when windrowed will beexposed to the air for drying. An additional object is to providefacilities for positively transferring plants discharged from theconveyor of the harvester to the ground in order to avoid return ofclinging plants along its lower return run.

In accordance with the present invention, a pair of conical rollerdevices are operatively mounted by the harvester frame for rotationabout laterally inclined axes located in rearward spaced relation belowthe discharge end of the harvester conveyor in order to engage thevinelike peanut plants as they reach the discharge end of the conveyorand positively transfer the plants to the ground. The angularrelationship of the plant-engaging rollers is such as to cause the vinetips of the plants to be displaced laterally outwardly while at the sametime the taproots of the plants are pushed between curved guide rodsthat extend over and rearwardly beyond the rollers. Some of the taprootportions of the plants are accordingly displaced laterally inwardlycausing the plants to be inverted as they are transferred to the groundby rotation of the rollers resulting in a windrow of plants with thetaproots exposed to the air for drying. The disposition of the conicalrollers is such that the spacing between the underside of the conveyoradjacent the discharge end and the larger and smaller diameter ends ofthe rollers are approximately equidistant so as to ensure that all ofthe vines are removed from the conveyor.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

HO. 1 is a top plan view of the peanut-harvesting machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Fit]. 2 is a front elevational view of the harvesting machine shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the harvesting machine.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view through the machine takensubstantially through a plane indicated by section line 4-4 of HO. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

F lG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially througha plane indicated by section line 7-7 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a series of diagrammatic, top plan views showing the plantinverting action associated with the harvesting machine of the presentinvention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the harvesting machinegenerally denoted by reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 includes aframe assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 12 adapted tobe towed forwardly by a tractor vehicle through a hitch assembly 14. Thehitch assembly includes a pair of tie rods 16 pivotally interconnectedat the forward ends thereof with a pair of bars 18 by means of aconnecting bolt assembly 20, to which a tractor coupling is adapted tobe secured. The hitch rods 16 diverge from the bolt assembly 20 with therear ends thereof being pivotally connected to upwardly inclined framemembers 22 welded to horizontal side frame members 24 which areinterconnected at forward ends by a cross frame member 26. The rear endsof the bars 18 are pivotally connected to the cross frame member 26. Thetie rods 16 and bars 18 are interconnected at their forward ends by thepivot bolt assembly 20 with a pair of downwardly diverging hitch bars 28pivotally connected at their lower ends by pins 30 parallel spaced bars32 that extend forwardly from a cross frame member 34 interconnectingside frame sections 36 at the forward ends thereof, the side framesections 36 being secured to the forward end portions of the side framemembers 24. Secured as by welding to the side frame members 24 adjacentthe rear end thereof are a pair of posts 38 which rotatably mount at thelower ends a pair of sup porting wheel assemblies 40. The frame assembly12 is accordingly supported above the ground by the wheel assemblies 40and the tractor to which the frame assembly is hitched at its forwardend.

Secured to the juncture of the cross frame members 34 and the side framesections 36, are sleeves 42 within which vertical posts 44 are securedin adjusted positions by means of the setscrews 46. An intermediate post48 is secured to the cross frame member 34 in a similar fashion. Theposts 44 and 48 rotatably mount adjacent their lower ends, colter discs50 which are adapted to roll and cut the ends of vine-type plants in themiddle of a furrow between rows in order to ensure that one row ofplants is not entangled with the adjacent one.

The frame assembly also supports in rearward relation to the colterdiscs 50, a cutter mechanism generally denoted by reference numeral 52and a conveyor generally referred to by reference numeral 54. As moreclearly seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 7, the cutter mechanism includesdownwardly depending brackets 56 secured as by welding to the side framesections 36 in close rearwardly spaced relation to the colter discs 50in order to mount pivot bolts 58 on which lever elements 60 arepivotally mounted. The lower end of the lever elements areinterconnected with a cutter bar 62 adapted to be disposed below thesurface of the soil 64 as shown in F l6. 4. Upwardly inclined lifterbars 66 are secured to the rear edge of the cutter bar 62 in order toguide upward displacement of cut plants 68 severed at the taproots 70 bythe cutter bar during forward movement of the harvesting machine. Thecutter bar 62 is laterally reciprocated by means of a crank element 72pivotally connected to the upper ends of the lever elements by means ofa connecting rod 74. The crank element is connected to the end of adrive shaft 76 journaled by a bearing assembly 78 secured to the top ofa cross frame member 80 interconnecting the forwardly extending framemembers 32 to which the hitch bars 28 are connected at their forwardends as shown in FIG. 1. The forward end of the drive shaft 76 isdrivingly connected by the sprocket chain 82 to an input shaft 84. Theinput shaft is driven from a tractor power takeoff through the universalshaft section 86.

in addition to driving the cutter mechanism 52, the input shaft 84 alsoimparts drive to the conveyor 54. The rear end of the input shaftaccordingly extends into a gearbox 88 from which an output shaft 90extends laterally. Connected to the lateral end of the shaft 90 on oneside of the frame assembly 12, is a sprocket gear 92 about which anendless sprocket chain 94 is entrained for transmitting drive to theupper rear end of the conveyor through a drive shaft 96 journaled at theupper ends of the inclined frame members 22 by means of the bearingassemblies 98. Secured to the drive shaft 96 on the inside of theinclined frame members 22, are sprockets wheels about which a pair oflaterally spaced sprocket chains 100 are entrained, the lower ends ofthe sprocket chains being entrained about sprocket gears secured to ashaft 102 as more clearly seen in FIG. 4. The conveyor chains 100 areinterconnected by slats 104 from which plant engaging pins 106 projectin laterally spaced relationship to each other. Thus, as the drive shaft96 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4, theupper arm of the conveyor 54 moves upwardly from the lower end thereofsupported by the shaft 102 positioned by chains 108 suspended from theside frame members 24. The lower inlet end of the conveyor is therebyoperatively positioned in close rearwardly spaced relationship to thelifter bars 66 projecting upwardly from the cutter bar 62. Cut plants 68are accordingly lifted onto the conveyor by engagement with the upwardlymoving pins 106 during forward movement of the harvesting machine inorder to transport the cut plants to the upper discharge end of theconveyor.

Side shields 110 are fixedly mounted on the frame assembly on thelaterally outer sides of the conveyor chains 100 in order to confine theplants to the conveyor. Secured to the upper ends of the shields 110 aredeflector shields 112 that extend laterally inwardly in rearwardlyspaced relation to the conveyor. The deflecting shields 112 accordinglyinsure that all the plants discharged from the upper end of the conveyor54 are received by the plant-inverting assemblies 114 which are mountedat the rear end portion of the harvester frame 12.

Each of the assemblies 114 includes a subframe assembly consisting of alower horizontal frame member 116 and an upper horizontal frame member118 as more clearly seen in FIGS. and 6, interconnected by a verticalconnecting frame member 120. The upper and lower frame members 116 and118 are received within the open tubular ends of the side frame member24 and an upper parallel frame section 122 that is welded to and extendsrearwardly from the inclined frame members 22 an more clearly seen inFIG. 4. Thus, the assemblies 114 may be properly positioned inrearwardly spaced relation to the conveyor and welded in place as anattachment to a peanut-harvesting machine.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 4 and 5, each assembly 114 is providedwith an angle bar 126 that is attached as by welding at an upper end tothe upper horizontal frame member 118 and extends downwardly at aforwardly inclined angle therefrom. A brace bar 128 is interconnectedbetween the lower frame member 116 and the angle bar 126 as shown inFIG. 5 in order to support the angle bar at its inclined position.Secured to the inner and lower end of the angle bar 126, is a horizontalsupport bar 130 as more clearly seen in FlG. 4 on which a bearingassembly 132 is mounted. The bearing assembly 132 rotatably journals ashaft 134 connected at its laterally outer end by a universal coupling140 to a shaft 142 journaled by a bearing assembly 144 on the upperframe member 118. The shaft 138 is secured to and supports a steppeddiameter type of conical roller generally referred to by referencenumeral 146 having a large diameter end 148 disposed adjacent to thebearing assembly 132 and a small diameter end 150 located thereabovealong the shaft 138. The shafts 138 associated with the assemblies 114rotatably mount the associated conical rollers 146 about laterallyinclined axes which are generally perpendicular to the direction ofmovement of the harvester frame or the rows of plants being harvestedthereby, as more clearly seen in H08. 1 and 3. Also, in view of theconical shape of the rollers 146, the large and smaller diameter endsthereof are approximately equidistant from the underside of the conveyor54 from which plants are transferred to the assemblies 114. In thisfashion, removal of plants from the conveyor is ensured so as toeliminate the problem occurring in prior art harvesting machines whereinplants that cling to the conveyor are returned to the lower end of theconveyor along its underside.

The external stepped diameter portions 152 of the conical rollers 146are provided with circumferentially spaced plantengaging pins 154arranged to pick up and remove the plants from the upper discharge endof the conveyor 54 as the rollers are rotated in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 4. The rollers are driven from the driveshaft 96 by means of endless belt drives 156 entrained about pulleys 158and 160 respectively secured to the drive shaft 96 and the shafts 142connected by the universal joints to the conical roller shafts 138adjacent the small diameter ends thereof.

Secured to the angle bars 126 and located in close forwardly spacedrelationship to each of the conical roller members 146, are a pluralityof parallel spaced guide rods 162. The guide rods curve over the conicalroller members as more clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 and then downwardlyand rearwardly beyond the conical roller members. Further, as moreclearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the guide rods disposed above the smallerdiameter end portions of the conical roller members curve laterallyinwardly. toward the centerline or longitudinal axis of the machine todefine spiral guide paths therebetween.

As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 8, the plants or band of peanutvines 68 are engaged by the rollers as they are turned over the upperdischarge end of the conveyor and are accordingly transferred rearwardlyfrom the conveyor by the pins 154 projecting from the external surfaceof the conical roller members. The taproots 70 of the plants willproject between the guide rods 162, the curvature of which is such as tocooperate with the rotation of the conical roller members and cause theplants to be inverted. Thus, as the plants leave the guide rods, theyare deposited in windrows 164 as shown in FlG. 8 with the taprootsexposed upwardly for drying by the air. This positive positioning of theplants occurs because the tips of the vines are displaced laterallyoutwardly by virtue of the inclination of the rollers as shown in FIG. 3while at the same time the taproot portions thereof are constrained formovement in a rearward direction and in some cases laterally inwardlybecause of the curvature of the guide rods 162. Further, those vines onthe inside of the bands engaged with the larger diameter end portion ofthe roller members, have a higher linear speed imparted thereto causingthem to be displaced laterally outwardly with greater momentum than thehigher outside vines of the band as they leave the rollers resulting ina spiral action to completely turn the vines over with the tips of thevines on outer edges of the windrow 164 as shown in FIG. 8. This insuresthat the taproots remain on top and are exposed to the drying effect ofthe air.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a machine for harvesting vine-type plants growingin a row having means for cutting the roots of the plant below thesurface of the soil and conveying means for rearwardly transporting theplants to a discharge location, means for windrowing the plants ininverted positions to expose said roots comprising at least one plantengaging member movably mounted by the machine at said dischargelocation in rearwardly spaced relation to the conveying means, drivemeans operatively connected to the plant-engaging member for impartingmovement to the plants received from the conveying means along curvedpaths, inverting guide means mounted by the machine in operativerelation to the plant-engaging member for guiding movement of the plantsalong said curved paths while the plants are engaged with the plantengaging member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plant engaging memberincludes a roller rotatably mounted about a laterally inclined axisperpendicular to said row, said roller having an external annularsurface portion increasing in peripheral linear speed toward a lower endof the inclined axis when rotated by the drive means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said roller is generally conicalin shape.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said guide means includes aplurality of parallel spaced root-engaging rods extending rearwardlyover and beyond the plant engaging member.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plant-engaging member is agenerally conical roller having an upper small diameter end and a lowerlarge diameter end.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said guide means includes aplurality of parallel spaced root-engaging rods extending rearwardlyover and beyond the plant engaging member.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said guide means includes aplurality of parallel spaced root-engaging rods extending along saidcurved paths rearwardly over and beyond the plant-engaging member.

8. The combination of claim 1 including shield means for deflecting thetips of the plants laterally from the conveying means onto theplant-engaging member.

9. ln a harvesting machine having a conveyor extending upwardly andrearwardly to a discharge location from which plants are windrowed, aplant-inverting assembly comprising conical roller means rotatablymounted at said discharge location for inverting plants received fromthe conveyor, drive means connected to the roller means for rotationthereof to effect said inversion of plants and guide means fixedlymounted by the machine in operative relation to the roller means forguiding movement of the plants to the ground from the roller means.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said guide means includes aplurality of parallel spaced root-engaging rods extending rearwardlyover and beyond the roller means.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said roller means includes atleast one generally conical member rotatable about a lateral inclinedaxis.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein said roller means includes twogenerally conical members rotatably mounted about laterally inclinedaxes and having larger diameter end portions located adjacent each otherand remotely spaced smaller diameter end portions disposed above thelarger diameter end portions.

113. The combination of claim 12 wherein the larger and smaller diameterend portions of each of said conical members are approximatelyequidistant from the conveyor.

M. The combination of claim 9 wherein said roller means includes atleast one generally conical member rotatable about a lateral inclinedaxis.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the larger and smaller diameterend portions of said conical member are approximately equidistant fromthe conveyor.

I? I? t l

1. In combination with a machine for harvesting vine-type plants growingin a row having means for cutting the roots of the plant below thesurface of the soil and conveying means for rearwardly transporting theplants to a discharge location, means for windrowing the plants ininverted positions to expose said roots comprising at least one plantengaging member movably mounted by the machine at said dischargelocation in rearwardly spaced relation to the conveying means, drivemeans operatively connected to the plant-engaging member for impartingmovement to the plants received from the conveying means along curvedpaths, inverting guide means mounted by the machine in operativerelation to the plant-engaging member for guiding movement of the plantsalong said curved paths while the plants are engaged with the plantengaging member.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plantengaging member includes a roller rotatably mounted about a laterallyinclined axis perpendicular to said row, said roller having an externalannular surface portion increasing in peripheral linear speed toward alower end of the inclined axis when rotated by the drive means.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2 wherein said roller is generally conical inshape.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said guide means includes aplurality of parallel spaced root-engaging rods extending rearwardlyover and beyond the plant engaging member.
 5. The combination of claim 1wherein said plant-engaging member is a generally conical roller havingan upper small diameter end and a lower large diameter end.
 6. Thecombination of claim 5 wherein said guide means includes a plurality ofparallel spaced root-engaging rods extending rearwardly over and beyondthe plant engaging member.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidguide means includes a plurality of parallel spaced root-engaging rodsextending along said curved paths rearwardly over and beyond theplant-engaging member.
 8. The combination of claim 1 including shieldmeans for deflecting the tips of the plants laterally from the conveyingmeans onto the plant-engaging member.
 9. In a harvesting machine havinga conveyor extending upwardly and rearwardly to a discharge locationfrom which plants are windrowed, a plant-inverting assembly comprisingconical roller means rotatably mounted at said discharge location forinverting plants received from the conveyor, drive means connected tothe roller means for rotation thereof to effect said inversion ofplants, and guide means fixedly mounted by the machine in operativerelation to the roller means for guiding movement of the plants to theground from the roller means.
 10. The combination of claim 9 whereinsaid guide means includes a plurality of parallel spaced root-engagingrods extending rearwardly over and beyond the roller means.
 11. Thecombination of claim 10 wherein said roller means includes at least onegenerally conical member rotatable about a lateral inclined axis. 12.The combination of claim 9 wherein said roller means includes twogenerally conical members rotatably mounted about laterally inclinedaxes and having larger diameter end portions located adjacent each otherand remotely spaced smaller diameter end portions disposed above thelarger diameter end portions.
 13. The combination of claim 12 whereinthe larger and smaller diameter end portions of each of said conicalmembers are approximately equidistant from the conveyor.
 14. Thecombination of claim 9 wherein said roller means includes at least onegenerally conical member rotatable about a lateral inclined axis. 15.The combination of claim 14 wherein the larger and smaller diameter endportions of said conical member are approximately equidistant from theconveyor.